Resetting and mounting apparatus for counting mechanisms

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for mounting, aligning, and resetting digit rollers in a counting mechanism. The digit rollers are held in a casing and are selectively engageable by transfer pinions. Each digit roller has a resetting cam that is selectively engageable by a resetting finger connected to a resetting lever. A spacing rib is connected to the casing and formed between each adjacent pair of digit rollers so that the casing is divided into independent chambers. Each chamber holds a single digit roller so that lateral displacement of one of the digit rollers does not cause lateral displacement of other digit rollers. A curved bottom surface underlies the circumference of each digit roller and provides a means of holding the digit roller during assembly.

United States Patent 1,618,140 2/1927 Seward Inventor Alfred Ziellte Paine, Germany Appl. No. 821,809 Filed May 5, 1969 Patented Aug. 3, 1971 Assignee ELMEG Elektro-Mcchanik Gmbll Pelne, Germany Priority May 6, 1968 Germany P 17 74 222.2

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-- Stephen J. Tomsky Armmey- Bair, Freeman and Molinare ABSTRACT: Apparatus for mounting, aligning, and resetting digit rollers in a counting mechanism. The digit rollers are held in a casing and are selectively engageable by transfer pinions. Each digit roller has a resetting cam that is selectively engageable by a resetting finger connected to a resetting lever. A spacing rib is connected to the casing and formed between each adjacent pair of digit rollers so that the casing is divided into independent chambers. Each chamber holds a single digit roller so that lateral displacement of one of the digit rollers does not cause lateral displacement of other digit rollers. A curved bottom surface underlies the circumference of each digit roller and provides a means of holding the digit roller during assembly.

PATENTEU AUG 3 l9?! FIG. 2

RlESlE'llTING ANll) MOUNTING APPARATUS FOR CUUNTING MECHANISMS RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to resetting and mounting apparatus for counting mechanisms and is more specifically directed to resetting and mounting apparatus used in connection with pulse counting mechanisms consisting of digit rollers that are advanced by transfer pinions.

Pulse counting mechanisms employing digit rollers that are selectively advanced by transfer pinions are well-known. In such mechanisms, the digit rollers are freely turnable on an axle borne in two opposing sides of a casing that encloses the digit rollers. The digitrollcrs are normally secured against lateral shifting by spacer discs that are placed between adjacent rollers. The transfer pinions switch a successive digit roller forward by one digit after a full revolution of an associated digit roller. The pinions are mounted on a common axle that is commonly borne or guided in opposing sides of the casing However, in some resettable counting mechanisms, the transfer pinion axle can also be borne on a swingable pinion bridge. In such counting mechanisms, the axle of the transfer pinions is swung during the resetting of the digit rollers into their starting positions in such a way that the transfer pinions come out of engagement with the digit rollers. The resetting operation itself is accomplished by means of heart-shaped resetting cams which are mounted laterally on the side surfaces of the digit rollers. The resetting cams normally project beyond the side surfaces and are acted on by resetting levers.

Pulse counting mechanisms of the foregoing type have a number of disadvantages with respect to their assembly method, particularly regarding the adjustment of the digit rollers and transfer pinions that must be accomplished in the assembly process. During assembly, it is necessary to mount the digit rollers on a common axle and to mount the transfer pinions on another axle inside the counter casing. Because of the small amount of space present inside the counter casing and the large number of digit rollers comprising most counting mechanisms, the assembly procedure is extremely difficult and time-consuming. Moreover, the proper placement of the spacer discs in relationship to the digit roller axle is extremely difficult. The same difficulty is encountered if spacer discs are used in connection with the transfer pinion axle.

Proper placement of spacer discs on the transfer pinion axle is especially difficult in the case of resettable counting mechanisms. In such devices, the transfer pinions are swung out of and into engagement with the digit rollers. As a result, the transfer pinions and digit rollers must be precisely aligned or they will not mesh properly during the resetting process. For example, instead of properly engaging the gear teeth of digit roller, an associated transfer pinion may come to rest on the digit-bearing circumference of the roller.

Another problem is created by the fact that both the digit rollers and the transfer pinions have different manufacturing tolerances. As a result, when these parts are assembled together. the variations in tolerance may be added in order to create a sizable cumulative error. In such a situation, it is necessary for an assembly man to arrange different numbers of spacer discs of different thicknesses between the individual transfer pinions and digit rollers. This process must necessarily proceed on a trial and error basis so that the spacer discs may have to be changed a number of times until correct adjustment and alignment of the parts is achieved. Since individual digit rollers or transfer pinions must be taken from their axle each time the spacer discs are changed, this time-consuming and expensive.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide improved means for aligning, adjusting, assembling, and mounting multiple parts that are spaced along a common axle held within a casing.

It is another more specific object of the present invention to provide improved means for mounting, adjusting, aligning, and spacing the digit rollers and transfer pinions of a counting mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for isolating parts held on a common shaft so process is extremely that lateral displacement of one of the parts does not cause lateral displacement of other such parts.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for resetting a counting mechanism that consumes a minimum of space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art apparatus and to achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention, in principal aspect, basically comprises a plurality of spacing ribs connected to a casing that holds a plurality of rollers which are selectively engageable by pinions. The spacing ribs form independent chambers, each chamber being arranged to hold a single roller.

According to another aspect of the invention, each chamber comprises a curved bottom surface underlining the circumference of each roller mounted therein.

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a novel manner of arranging resetting cams and resetting levers that are used to reset the rollers.

The advantages of the present invention are at once apparent. By using the spacing ribs, each roller is isolated from. adjacent rollers so that lateral displacement of one roller does not cause lateral displacement of adjoining rollers. As a result, manufacturing tolerance variations of individual rollers cannot accumulate since each roller is held against lateral dis placement independent of the others. The lateral displacement of a given roller is limited by the space between the spacing ribs'on either side of the roller. This space is normally so slight that it does not need to be compensated by spacer discs. As a result, digit rollers may be placed on their axle without the necessity of mounting spacer discs therebetween. Accordingly, a complicated, time-consuming, and expensive operation is eliminated.

The chamber bottom provided for in connection with another aspect of the invention provides a further advantage. The chamber bottom may be used to hold the rollers during assembly. The rollers may then be easily slid onto their axle since they are partially aligned by placement on the chamber bottom.

in accordance with another aspect of the invention, the pinions may also be separated by separating ribs that form chambers within the casing. Each of the chambers is provided with a chamber bottom so that the above-discussed advantages .may also be achieved with respect to the pinions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will hereinafter appear for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pulse counting mechanism constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, and, in which for the sake of clarity, only one resetting lever isindicated; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line Il-II of FIG. ll.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The pulse counting mechanism represented in the drawing has a casing 1 which is formed ofa baseplate 2, a front plate 3 and two sidewalls 4i, and is open at the top. Between the sidewalls 4 of the casing there extends an axle 5 on which three digit rollers 6 are rotatably borne.

Between the individual digit rollers 6 and a drive roller 7 mounted on the same axle there are arranged spacing ribs 8, connected with the baseplate 2 and the front plate 3, which protect each of the digit rollers 6 and the drive roller 7 against lateral displacement on their common axle 5.

These spacing ribs 8 form, for each of the digit rollers 6 and for the drive roller '7, a chamber which has a chamber bottom.

9. Bottom 9 closely underlies the circumference of the mounted digit rollers and makes it possible to place these rollers in the individual chambers on the chamber bottom during assembly. Afterwards, from one of the sidewalls 4, an axle can be slid through the digit rollers so that the rollers are successively lifted from the chamber bottom.

Similarly, the transfer pinions 10, standing in engagement with the digit rollers, are provided with chambers which are formed by separating ribs ll lying between them. Between these separating ribs 11 is provided a chamber bottom 12 which consists of a widened continuation of the spacing ribs 8. During assembly, the transfer pinions are laid in their respective chambers on the chamber bottom 12. Then an axle 14 is laterally slid through on oblong hole 13, the aligned holes in the separating ribs, and through the transfer pinions. In the process, the transfer pinions are lifted from their chamber bottom 12. The oblong hole 13 also guides axle 14 in the deflection of the transfer pinions.

The digit rollers 6 each have on one side thereof a heartshaped resetting cam, such as exemplary cam l5. Cam 15 is fitted into the digit roller in such a way that it does not project beyond the side surface and perimeter 6a thereof. In this manner, the digit rollers are kept narrower than in analogous apparatus heretofore known, so that the width of the whole counting mechanism is not increased through the use of spacing ribs. The resetting cam I5 is constructed as an internal cam which is operated from the inside outward by a resetting finger 16 mounted on a resetting lever 17. That is, after the resetting of the digit rollers into their starting positions, the

resetting finger is situated adjacent the outer circumference of its corresponding digit roller and not, as in the known resetting cams, near its center. The resetting finger 16 mounted on the resetting lever extends laterally into the resetting cam and thereby engages the cam. The resetting lever 17 is thinner than each spacing rib and is borne in such a way that it can be swung adjacent the area of the roller side surface which is not covered by the adjoining spacing rib.

The construction ofa counting mechanism according to the principles described herein makes it possible for the casing, spacing ribs 8, separating ribs 111, and chamber bottoms 9 and 12 to be integrally fabricated from a single piece of die-cast metal. Moreover, due to the unique arrangement of the spacing ribs, the foregoing parts can even be fabricated from a relatively pliable substance such as in injection-molded plastic. Until the discovery of the present invention, the use of plastic casing material was not possible. Since the digit rollers were partially connected by means of spacer discs that move with respect to the digit roller axle, the entire mechanism could be easily jammed if any one of the digit rollers was subjected to lateral pressure. Accordingly, if the case were made from a pliable material, any lateral pressure on the case would result in pressure on the digit roller adjacent thereto. Such lateral pressure would generally cause the mechanism to jam or come out of adjustment. In the present invention, however,

the digit rollers and transfer pinions are held in separate chambers so that lateral pressure on one does not result in lateral movement of the others. Accordingly, the casing may be made from a relatively pliable material without endangering the ad- 5 justment of the mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment described herein, many nonessential parts have been omitted in the interest of clarity. All these unrepresented parts can be constructed in any conventional manner. For example, the drive roller 7 can be riven over a thrust pawl or a Graham escapement, and the resetting lever 17 can be swung by means of any suitable operating rod. Likewise, axle 14 of the transfer pinions can lie in a swingable pinion bridge or be swung in any known manner.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that certain structural features and operational methods of the specific apparatus disclosed herein may be changed and altered without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

ll. In a counting mechanism comprising a casing with first and second parallel axes, said first axis holding a plurality of rollers, said second axis holding a plurality of pinions to selectively engage said rollers on said first axis, the improvement comprising spacing ribs connected to the casing, each of said spacing ribs being formed between a pair of the rollers on said first axis whereby the casing is divided into a first set of independent chambers with a roller in each of said first set of independent chambers, and separating ribs connected to the casing, each of said separating ribs being formed between a pair of pinions on said second axis, whereby the casing is divided into a second set of independent chambers with a pinion in each of said second set of independent chambers, said spacing ribs thereby preventing lateral displacement of one of said rollers from causing lateral displacement of other of said rollers, and said separating ribs thereby preventing lateral displacement of one of said pinions from causing lateral displacement of other of said pinions.

2. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said spacing ribs being integral to said casing.

3. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs being integral to said casing.

41. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1, each of said spacing ribs between said rollers being parallel to the sides of said rollers and having a sloping surface curving from a point substantially near the top of an adjacent roller, through a center point of. said roller, to a point substantially near the bottom of said roller, with a recession in said sloping surface to allow said first axis to pass therethrough.

5. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs having aligned oblong holes therethrough, said second axis extending alternately through said oblong holes and said pinions.

6. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs being substantially triangular in shape to allow the selective engagement of said pinions with said rollers when said second axis is transversely slid in said oblong holes.

7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein each chamber in said first set comprises a curved bottom surface underlying the circumference of the roller mounted therein, said curved bottom surface being adapted to hold said roller during assembly.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each chamber in said second set comprises a curved bottom surface underlying the circumference of the pinion mounted therein, said curved bottom surface being adapted to hold said pinion during assembly.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said curved bottom surface comprises a widened continuation of said spacing ribs. 

1. In a counting mechanism comprising a casing with first and second parallel axes, said first axis holding a plurality of rollers, said second axis holding a plurality of pinions to selectively engage said rollers on said first axis, the improvement comprising spacing ribs connected to the casing, each of said spacing ribs being formed between a pair of the rollers on said first axis whereby the casing is divided into a first set of independent chambers with a roller in each of said first set of independent chambers, and separating ribs connected to the casing, each of said separating ribs being formed between a pair of pinions on said second axis, whereby the casing is divided into a second set of independent chambers with a pinion in each of said second set of independent chambers, said spacing ribs thereby preventing lateral displacement of one of said rollers from causing lateral displacement of other of said rollers, and said separating ribs thereby preventing lateral displacement of one of said pinions from causing lateral displacement of other of said pinions.
 2. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said spacing ribs being integral to said casing.
 3. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs being integral to said casing.
 4. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1, each of said spacing ribs between said rollers being parallel to the sides of said rollers and having a sloping surface curving from a point substantially near the top of an adjacent roller, through a center point of said roller, to a point substantially near the bottom of said roller, with a recession in said sloping surface to allow said first axis to pass therethrough.
 5. In a counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs having aligned oblong holes therethrough, said second axis extending alternately through said oblong holes and said pinions.
 6. In A counting mechanism as in claim 1 said separating ribs being substantially triangular in shape to allow the selective engagement of said pinions with said rollers when said second axis is transversely slid in said oblong holes.
 7. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1 wherein each chamber in said first set comprises a curved bottom surface underlying the circumference of the roller mounted therein, said curved bottom surface being adapted to hold said roller during assembly.
 8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein each chamber in said second set comprises a curved bottom surface underlying the circumference of the pinion mounted therein, said curved bottom surface being adapted to hold said pinion during assembly.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said curved bottom surface comprises a widened continuation of said spacing ribs. 